Steven Gerrard hailed Alexis Mac Allister’s “outstanding” display after the Liverpool midfielder inspired a 2-1 comeback victory over Atlético Madrid at Anfield.
The Argentina international scored the decisive goal early in the second half, striking from the edge of the penalty area with his left foot to complete Liverpool’s turnaround in their Champions League opener.
Steven Gerrard praises Alexis Mac Allister
Mac Allister’s performance came against the backdrop of fresh uncertainty over his Liverpool future. The 27-year-old had admitted before kick-off that he was “very, very sad” not to have been offered a contract extension while teammates Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch had secured new deals.
But the midfielder responded with an authoritative display in the centre of the pitch, helping Liverpool regain control after Marcos Llorente had given Atlético an early lead.
Szoboszlai equalised shortly before half-time before Mac Allister produced the winning moment in the 50th minute. His low, powerful finish from outside the box flew into the bottom corner and gave Andoni Iraola his first Champions League victory as Liverpool manager.
Speaking on TNT Sports after the match, Gerrard said: “I thought his performance tonight was outstanding. Let your football do the talking. Consistency, top performance, show your experience. Show you’re a top international. This club will reward you.”
The former Liverpool captain’s comments underlined the significance of Mac Allister’s response after the contract admission. Rather than allowing the issue to dominate the evening, the midfielder played a central role in securing three points for the Reds.
Mac Allister still has two years remaining on his Liverpool contract and chose to remain at Anfield despite having options to leave during the summer transfer window. He has made clear that his priority is competing for major honours with the club.
Transfer reporter Ben Jacobs has suggested Liverpool could reassess the situation during the season, although the club is not currently understood to be actively pursuing a renewal. For now, Mac Allister’s performance against Atlético has strengthened Gerrard’s argument that his football should do the talking.
